UAlbany Senior Creates Summer Initiative to Develop Next Generation of Business Professionals

UAlbany senior Elizabeth Skovron sits at her desk in Greenburgh Town Hall, where she will lead a summer initiative to develop peers into business professionals. (Photo courtesy of Greenburgh Town Hall)

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 23, 2014) -- Like many of her fellow classmates, incoming UAlbany senior Elizabeth Skovron is spending this summer fine-tuning the skills needed to create a successful path after graduation. What separates the Tarrytown, N.Y. native from others is her approach.

Under the guidance of Greenburgh, N.Y. Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, Skovron, an honors student and sociology major, will lead a summer-long initiative to help current students and recent graduates transition to the professional world.

Skovron plans to hold a number of public networking sessions with business owners and corporate professionals. She’s also in the process of meeting with local entrepreneurs who will be highlighted as guest speakers at upcoming meetings.

Referring to the position as a “summer internship initiative,” Skovron sought out Feiner for potential volunteer opportunities. The two brainstormed and defined a strategy to not only benefit Skovron, but also the greater Westchester County community.

“While I was advised of a number of established internships within the Town of Greenburgh, this initiative offered much more,” Skovron said. “It gives students -- myself included -- an opportunity to build connections and learn from real businesses. Many students are fearful of transitioning after college. I hope to offer a glimpse into how the professional-world operates and what it takes to be successful.”

One avenue the project will emphasize is entrepreneurship. Skovron spent her junior year working closely with a start-up company in Albany that specializes in sustainable economic development. She believes the millennial generation needs to keep an open-mind to starting a business.

“I think many students have this perception that if you want to start your own company, you need to have millions of dollars. That is simply not true,” Skovron said. “You can take your idea to the next level with the right attitude. I really enjoy the idea of taking a company off the ground, from researching to seeking out to the right people, and everything in between.”

Skovron held her first public meeting at Greenburgh Town Hall in early June and has promoted her initiative through Greenburgh Access Television (GATV). She will continue to host open events through August. Skovron is working with local schools, including Fordham University, Iona College, Purchase College, SUNY, and Westchester Community College to encourage interested students to attend upcoming meetings.

In the fall, Skovron will be shifting back to academia, focusing on independent honors research needed to complete her degree. She’s not positive what her own future holds, but believes UAlbany has offered the proactive mindset needed to reach her goals, whatever they may be.

“UAlbany has provided me with all the right channels to be prepared upon graduating, at a fraction of the price of many private schools. The University is a great place to get started,” Skovron said.

Are you interning this summer? Students are encouraged to share photos of their summer positions through UAlbany’s social media tagboard. Post an internship photo, along with your name, class, position and company using hashtag #UAlbanyIntern.